I’ve always appreciated good audio quality, though I wouldn’t quite call myself an audiophile. Over the years, I gradually collected AV equipment during sales, upgrading my setup when I found a good deal. Once I had a surround sound system I was happy with, I decided it was time to build out a full home theater.

I designed the layout using an online tool made for optimizing theater dimensions, viewing angles, and speaker placement. The setup includes a 135-inch screen, 4K UHD projector, and 7.2 surround sound across six stadium-style seats. The riser was built from 2x2 framing with plywood on top, construction adhesive between layers, and topped with gym mats for comfort. I added a felt skirt around the base for a cleaner look and tucked a subwoofer inside the riser to save space.

Smart ceiling lights complete the experience by adjusting automatically based on what’s happening on screen. They turn off during playback, shift to a dim blue when paused, and return to a warm white once the movie ends. There are no LED strips or distracting effects. Just simple and clean lighting that keeps the focus where it belongs.

The entire room was painted with dark matte finishes to reduce reflections and improve contrast. Acoustic panels were arranged in a symmetrical pattern across the walls, chosen for both their acoustic performance and visual balance. To tie everything together, I added matching covers to the theater couches so they would blend in with the red velvet curtains and wall treatments, giving the space a more finished and upscale look.